The French rugby coach Marc Lievremont admits they have a lot of work to do if they're to challenge the All Blacks at next year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Lievremont says he's watched all four Tri-Nations matches so far and has been hugely impressed by the standard in each one.
Lievremont says to play such rugby at such speed, four matches at such a level and with such an intensity is a new trend in the Tri-Nations.
He says the All Blacks are always looking to play with the ball and he is glad to see the New Zealanders' style winning through in the tournament over that of the world champions.
He says South Africa are not good at the moment, their physical style has now been overtaken by the All Blacks' method, which he says they will now try to adopt, although he doesn't like to admit that.
Lievremont says what hurts most is the technical quality of the New Zealanders in every department.
He believes that France will now be playing catch-up if they have any realistic hopes of repeating their surprise quarter-final victory over the All Blacks in the last World Cup four years ago.
France and New Zealand are in the same pool at next year's World Cup.
